Sugar Pine Music Fest ‘debut’ highlights October live music around Sacramento region

Megafests Aftershock and Golden Sky are set to blast off at Discovery Park on back-to-back weekends this month — but save your energy, there’s tons more music afoot in October.

Local artists, message Aaron Davis on Instagram if you have upcoming shows, @adavis_threetosee.

Purportedly the longest continually running event of its kind on the planet, the ever-daring NorCal Noisefest has been a fixture in Sacramento (and the broader experimental/noise community) since roughly the time when Thursday nights were reserved for Friends and Seinfeld. This cavalcade of sonic wizardry and wild-eyed experimentation brings hordes of acts to Sacramento for two days of live performances (Fri. Oct. 6 and Sat. Oct. 7 at Cafe Colonial) capped with a full day of virtual streaming sets (3 p.m. Sun. Oct. 8). Familiar faces like Instagon and Uberkunst lead a pack of mad architects too numerous to mention, coming from as far away as Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan and points between — and even Ecuador and Canada! Best news for last: thanks to a crowdfunding campaign, NorCal Noisefest is a free event in 2023. (norcalnoisefest.com).

Those John Lee Hooker influences are pouring from the edges of The Record Company’s brand new album, “The 4th Album” — which we’re pretty sure is their fourth album. On this and the previous three, the L.A. based power trio has firmly established its ability to pen heavy helpings of pop-sensible blues/rock ditties — on full display here with tunes like “Talk to Me” and “Roll With It” — but they’re also dippin’ into the Delta (“You Made a Mistake”) and sniffin’ the shack shakers (“I’m Working”). Bassist Alex Stiff remains the sneaky yet thundering hero of this act, with his expressive, titillating bass lines playing a pied piper for spirited vocalist/guitarist Chris Vos and drummer Marc Cazorla. Their brief Northern California swing supporting the new record lands them in Roseville (8 p.m. Fri. Oct. 6 at Goldfield Roseville, with Sarah Rogo. $22.50. goldfieldtradingpost.com).

Speaking of blues, October’s slate of Wednesday “Blues & Bourbon” gigs at the Starlet Room is juiced, with Sacramento standout Red’s Blues recording their Oct. 4 set for a forthcoming live album release, titled “Old Diamonds & Uncut Gems,” alongside a number of special guests joining the party. The following week (Oct. 11) finds stalwart Mark Hummel hosting a “Chicago Blues Revue,” alongside vocalist Oscar Wilson, axeman/multi-instrumentalist Billy Flynn, singer and guitarist Joe Beard, bassist Randy Bermudes and drummer Wes Starr. Rounding out the month are Ryder Green & Friends (Oct. 18), and John Primer (former bandleader and guitarist for Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Magic Slim) paired with harpist Bob Corritore (Oct. 25). harlow’s.com.

Still need more blues? The 14th Annual Blues By the River, a fundraiser for local charities, goes down at Swabbies with Chris Cain Band and Mighty Mike Schermer Band (2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sat. Oct. 7. 5871 Garden Hwy. $15. eventbrite.com)

As we speak, I’m sipping from a commemorative Berryessa Brewing anniversary party cup from 2015 and marveling at just how long this delectable fall event has been going — and also craving a Double Tap IPA, but that’s a different conversation. The Winters brewery celebrates 12 years in the business as they always do, by welcoming in local and regional bands for a daylong hayballed hootenanny at their farm(ish) taproom, this year hosting staples New Monsoon, Achilles Wheel and foothill warriors Golden Cadillacs (12 p.m. Sun. Oct. 8, 27260 CA-128, Winters. Free. berryessabrewingco.com).

One of the more venerable alt-rock acts of the ‘90s that will seemingly never succumb to Father Time, Everclear brings its cavalcade of hits (“Santa Monica,” anyone?) to Rocklin’s Quarry Park Amphitheatre, in that venue’s final show of the season. Along for the ride is equally resilient pop-punk hellcats the Ataris, with the Pink Spiders also opening (6 p.m. Fri. Oct. 13, 4000 Rocklin Road, Rocklin. everclear1013.eventbrite.com).

Veteran Americana rock troupe Forever Goldrush has two new offerings to share with the world: their fifth full-length album, “Moonflower Songs,” produced by the Mother Hips’ Tim Bluhm, and a West Coast pilsner, “Chicken Bone Force Field” that they collaborated on with the notably Americana-lovin’ folks at Claimstake Brewing Company. Guzzle down a little of both (or a lot, we’re not judging) when the group celebrates the release of the album and the brew at Claimstake, with Legion of Decency and Brian, Dave, & The 40Hr. Workweek lending support. Ticket/album bundles and VIP slots are also available (4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sat. Oct. 14, 11366 Monier Park Place Rancho Cordova. $20-$100. eventbrite.com).

Newish digs and a new name for the former Hangtown Music Festival (sister fest to our pals at the High Sierra Music Festival), which was long held annually in Placerville until last year, when it moved to the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley and has now been renamed the Sugar Pine Music Festival. In technically its “first annual” outing, the four-day Halloween-tinged affair welcomes funk-jazz titans Lettuce and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (the latter performing a tribute to the Beastie Boys alongside members of Slightly Stoopid), as well as longtime Tom Petty axeman Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs, ALO, Jennifer Hartswick Band, Sunsquabi, Carolyn Wonderland, an expansive tribute to Garcia Grisman and tons more. Don’t forget your costumes for the theme days: “Beach Party,” “Superheroes,” “Caturday,” and “Pajamas and Onesies.” Why not rock those anyway, even if you can’t make the festival! (Oct. 19-22. sugarpinemusicfest.com).

In what is tabbed as her biggest show of 2023, soul-seared blues maven Katie Knipp Big Band returns to the Sofia stage, with the always effervescent band leader helming her fiery eight-piece lineup (7 p.m. Sat. Oct. 28. $24.50-$34.50. bstreettheatre.org). The show will also be a crowdfunding of sorts, with proceeds going to fund the recording of Knipp’s eighth (?!) album, which she is due to hit the studio to begin crafting the week after the gig. It’s also her last local gig of the calendar year, save for a solo spot opening for Joan Osborne in Grass Valley in November.

Grab Bag: Rapidly ascending bluegrass gem AJ Lee & Blue Summit head to Grass Valley’s Center for the Arts with prodigious local upstarts Broken Compass Bluegrass opening (8 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 12. $25-$35. thecenterforthearts.org); The “funkiest rapper alive” Lyrics Born heads out to fire up Nevada City’s already rowdy Crazy Horse Saloon (10 p.m. Fri. Oct 13. $20. eventbrite.com); Legendary reggae-fueled alt rockers Iration land at the Hard Rock in Wheatland (7:30 p.m. Fri. Oct. 13. hardrockhotelsacramento.com); Celebrate Halloween with soaring throwback soul machine Thee Sinseers at the Crest Theatre with the Altons supporting (8 p.m. Tues. Oct. 31. crestsacramento.com)